On Thursday, Jan. 23, comedians Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott announced the nominations for the 97th Academy Awards on a live broadcast from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
Leading the field with 13 nominations is Emilia Perez, placing it in rarified air with only 11 other films in history. French author Jacques Audiard’s new film has been highly polarizing since it premiered at Cannes, both in regards to its quality and presentation of themes including transgender issues. Equally well-liked and well-loathed, it will be placed under even greater scrutiny now that it’s situated as a front-runner. Netflix, having acquired the film some months ago, aims to score their first Best Picture winner.
Other front-runners, with ten nominations a piece, include the 3 1/2 hour-long behemoth of The Brutalist, which has recently made headlines for a somewhat overblown AI controversy, and the mega-hit Wicked. Bob Dylan’s biopic A Complete Unknown sits back as a dark horse, with an impressive eight nominations and a red hot Best Actor campaign by Timothee Chalamet.
In a film industry that feels increasingly commercialized, the Oscars serve as a platform to award and recognize cinema on the basis of quality and merit, as flawed of a judge as it may be. As the voting body has become more diverse in recent years, so have the films it showcases, shining light on independent and foreign films like I’m Still Here and Nickel Boys. It also creates an opportunity for the most talented actors, writers, directors, and crew members of today to be celebrated and anointed by their own peers. In decades past, the Academy Awards have been portrayed as the antichrist of unconventional, independent cinema. Now, it’s one of its biggest champions.
Best Picture
Anora
The Brutalist
A Complete Unknown
Conclave
Dune: Part Two
Emilia Pérez
I’m Still Here
Nickel Boys
The Substance
Wicked
Best Actor
Adrien Brody, The Brutalist
Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
Ralph Fiennes, Conclave
Sebastian Stan, The Apprentice
Best Actress
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez
Mikey Madison, Anora
Demi Moore, The Substance
Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here
Best Supporting Actor
Yura Borisov, Anora
Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain
Edward Norton, A Complete Unknown
Guy Pearce, The Brutalist
Jeremy Strong, The Apprentice
Best Supporting Actress
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldaña, Emilia Pérez
Best Director
Anora, Sean Baker
The Brutalist, Brady Corbet
A Complete Unknown, James Mangold
Emilia Pérez, Jacques Audiard
The Substance, Coralie Fargeat
For the full list of nominations, check out the Academy’s official website.